Q1. Friend of Sinners

[rosegarden]

On 12/10/2015 at 2:32 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (Luke 19:10; Matthew 11:19) Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is the Friend of Sinners? How should it affect your relationships with people who are deep in sin?

a.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10   He came for those in need, those who were hopeless with no way out, those who thought that they sinned too much and that they could never be forgiven.  Jesus loves everyone and is there for them, like a friend.  He longs for them to trust  and believe in Him and that He came to save them.  To me personally,    I was in a bad marriage and felt all alone.  Not happy, said to myself there has got to be more to life than this. Someone told me how Jesus changed their life and I too wanted that.  I trusted Jesus with my life and have never been the same.  He is more than a friend to me.  He is my life, my true happiness and so much more.  

b. Psalm 1:1 says this: Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.  We are not to associate with sinners and do the things they do.  We are not to look on the outward appearance but see their heart and their need for Jesus.   Telling them that there is no sin that can't be forgiven.  It would be so wonderful to see the miracle Jesus can do in making them a new creation. So Amazing!

 

 

 

 

[Bianca]

What it means to me personally is that Jesus died for me because I was lost to. That he loved me that much (More than I realize) and came and died for me. He looked past any mistakes I made but still wanted me in eternity with him. A perfect Holy God still wanted me to be in eternity with him regardless of my mistakes. That's love beyond human love.

 

It should remind me that i too was never perfect when dealing with others that are in deep sin. Just like Jesus died for me he also died for them to no matter what they have done. So just like God had mercy on me and made sure I would be with him eternity I should also want the same thing done for them. Though we have a free will to choose, I still should want them to choose right regardless of what they are doing.

 

[Krissi]

I am to be like Christ, to emulate Him. But this likeness is impossible without the Spirit "rearranging" and "restoring" what He created me to be.  My relationship to others is conditioned on my change. As I slowly morph into Christ-likeness, I see others through His eyes, not my own.

God loved the unlovable. He loved those I find depraved and repulsive. I must change so my relationships with these unlovable people mirrors how God Himself feels about them.